Complement deposition in renal histopathology of patients with ANCA-associated pauci-immune glomerulonephritis.
BACKGROUND
The pathogenesis of ANCA-associated pauci-immune glomerulonephritis has not been fully elucidated. Several studies had suggested that complement deposition could be detected in renal histopathology. The current study investigated the clinical and pathological significance of complement deposition in renal histopathology of patients with ANCA-associated pauci-immune glomerulonephritis.


METHODS
Renal biopsy specimens from 112 patients with ANCA-associated pauci-immune glomerulonephritis were investigated using direct immunofluorescence, light and electron microscopy. For direct immunofluorescence, IgG, IgA, IgM, C3c and C1q staining on fresh frozen renal tissue were routinely performed immediately after a renal biopsy. Complement deposition was defined as the presence of C3c or C1q for at least 1+ in a 0-4+ scale. Clinical and histopathological data between patients with and without complement deposition were compared.


RESULTS
In direct immunofluorescence microscopy, C3c and C1q could be detected in glomerular capillary wall and/or mesangium in the specimens of 37/112 (33.0%), 7/112 (6.3%) patients, respectively. Compared with patients without C3c deposition, patients with C3c deposition had a higher level of urinary protein (P < 0.01) and poorer initial renal function (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Complement deposition was not rare in renal histopathology of human ANCA-associated pauci-immune glomerulonephritis, which was associated with more severe renal injury.
Chen
Min
M
Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Institute of Nephrology, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Renal Disease, Ministry of Health of China, Beijing 100034, China.
Xing
Guang-Qun
GQ
Yu
Feng
F
Liu
Gang
G
Zhao
Ming-Hui
MH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic / Q000276:immunology*; D001706:Biopsy; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D003165:Complement System Proteins